Synopsis:
The Cast:
Production Credits:
The Episodes:
Season One Episode Guide (PBS)
1-01 Forgotten Cakes--09/06/2008
Recipes for chocolate blackout cake and strawberry poke cake. Featuring a Taste Test on milk chocolate.
1-02 Sunday Dinner-09/13/2008
Recipes for Sunday-best garlic roast beef and mashed potato casserole. Featuring an Equipment Review covering liquid dish soap. Axel appears in this episode.
1-03 Feeding A Crowd, Italian-Style--09/20/2008
Recipes for meatballs and marinara and Italian Sunday gravy. Featuring a Taste Test on jarred pasta sauce and an Equipment Review covering large saucepans.
1-04 Southern Regional Recipes--09/27/2008
Recipes for Lexington-Style pulled pork for charcoal grill and Memphis chopped coleslaw. Featuring a Taste Test on hot dogs and an Equipment Review covering tabletop grills. Julia Collin-Davison cooks both recipes with Christopher Kimball.
1-05 Autumn Supper--10/04/2008
Recipes for old-fashioned roast pork and cranberry-apple crisp. Featuring an Equipment Review covering pepper mills. Axel appears in this episode.
01-06 All-American Picnic--10/11/2008
Recipes for extra-crunchy fried chicken, all-American potato salad, and hard-cooked eggs. Featuring a Taste Test on potato chips. Erin McMurrer appears in this episode.
01-07 Easy As Pie--10/18/2008
Recipes for no-fear pie crust and raspberry chiffon pie. Featuring a Taste Test on pie crusts. Bridget Lancaster cooks with Christopher Kimball.
01-08 Steakhouse Favorites-10/25/2008
Recipes for super-stuffed baked potatoes and broiled steaks. Featuring Equipment Reviews covering electric knife sharpeners and steak knives. Axel appears in this episode.
01-09 Barbeques Chicken--11/01/2008
Recipes for best potluck macaroni and cheese, classic barbecued chicken, classic barbecued chicken on a gas grill, and basic pantry BBQ sauce. Axel appears in this episode.
01-10 Regional Chops--11/08/2008
Recipes for Tennessee-whiskey pork chops, smoked double-thick pork chops, and smoked double-thick pork chops on a gas grill.
01-11 Midwestern Favorites--11/18/2008
Recipes for Cincinnati chili and Chicago-style barbecued ribs. Featuring a Taste Test on cheddar cheese.
01-12 California Grilling--11/22/2008
Recipes for Santa Maria salsa and California barbecue tri-tip and beans. Featuring Taste Tests on salsas and jarred medium salsa, and an Equipment Review covering essential grilling gadgets. Bridget Lancaster cooks with Christopher Kimball.
01-13 Diner Favorites--11/29/2008
Recipes for short-order home fries and fluffy diner-style cheese omelet. Featuring an Equipment Review covering cast-iron skillets and a Taste Test on frozen orange juice concentrate.
Season Two Episode Guide (PBS)
2-01 Old-Fashioned Roast Beef Dinner--09/05/2009
Recipes for classic roast beef and gravy, and perfect poppers. Featuring an Equipment Review covering plastic wrap. This episode was hosted by Bridget Lancaster along with Christopher Kimball.
2-02 Pucker Up Pies--09/12/2009
Recipes for mile-high lemon meringue pie and icebox key lime pie. Featuring an Equipment Review covering stand mixers. This episode is the first regular appearance of Erin McMurrer.
2-03 Rise And Shine--09/19/2009
Recipes for ultimate cinnamon buns and better-than-the-box pancake mix. Featuring an Equipment Review covering stovetop griddles and a Tasting Lab on maple and pancake syrup.
2-04 Surefire Seafood--09/26/2009
Recipes for wood-grilled salmon and baked stuffed shrimp. Featuring a Tasting Lab on tartar sauce.
2-05 Super Fudgy Cake--10/03/2009
A recipe for tunnel of fudge cake. Featuring a Tasting Lab on boxed brownie mixes and top tips for oven baking. This episode was hosted by Bridget Lancaster along with Christopher Kimball.
2-06 Chili And Cornbread--10/10/2009
Recipes for chili con carne and Southern-style skillet cornbread. Featuring an Equipment Review covering can openers. This episode was hosted by Bridget Lancaster along with Christopher Kimball.
2-07 Southern Barbeque--10/17/2009
Recipes for Alabama BBQ chicken and tangy apple-cabbage slaw. Featuring a Tasting Lab on iced tea. This episode was hosted by Bridget Lancaster along with Christopher Kimball, with Tim Pennell as a call-in guest.
2-08 Fail-Safe Thanksgiving--10/24/2009
Recipes for old-fashioned roast turkey with gravy, and garlic mashed potatoes. Featuring a Tasting Lab on frozen dinner rolls and tips for how to buy a chef's knife. This episode was hosted by Bridget Lancaster along with Christopher Kimball.
2-09 Fried Chicken--10/31/2009
Recipes for creole fried chicken and grilled corn on the cob. Featuring an Equipment Review covering dutch ovens, a Tasting Lab on microwave popcorn, and tips for fool-proof deep frying. This episode was hosted by Bridget Lancaster along with Christopher Kimball.
2-10 Texas Beef Barbeque--11/07/2009
Recipes for shredded barbecued beef and ranch potato salad. Featuring an Equipment Review covering ice cream makers and a Tasting Lab on whole wheat bread. This episode was hosted by Bridget Lancaster along with Christopher Kimball.
2-11 Stovetop Desserts--11/14/2009
Recipes for skillet peach cobbler and blueberry grunt. Featuring a Tasting Lab on fresh lemon substitutes.
2-12 Perfect Pork--11/21/2009
Recipes for grilled mustard-glazed pork loin and cider-braised pork chops. Featuring a Tasting Lab on coarse-grain mustard and tips for prepping a gas grill.
2-13 Historical Cakes--11/28/2009
Recipes for red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and cold oven pound cake. Featuring an Equipment Review covering loaf pans and tips for perfectly baked cakes.
Season Three Episode Guide (PBS)
3-01 Two Perfect Pies--09/04/2010
Recipes for shaker lemon pie and icebox strawberry pie. Featuring an Equipment Review covering pie plates and a Tasting Lab on low-fat strawberry yogurt.
3-02 Family Supper--09/11/2010
Recipes for glazed meatloaf and crunchy potato wedges. Featuring an Equipment Review covering dish towels and tips for avoiding common cooking mistakes. This episode was hosted by Bridget Lancaster only.
3-03 Old Fashioned Pork--09/18/2010
Recipes for pan-fried pork chops, slow cooker pork pot roast, and mashed sweet potatoes. Featuring an Equipment Corner covering vacuum sealers.
3-04 Southern Comfort Food--09/25/2010
Recipes for sweet corn spoonbread and batter-fried chicken. Featuring a Tasting Lab on bottled ice teas with lemon.
3-05 Beef Meets Girl--10/02/2010
Recipes for classic steak sauce, char-grilled steaks, and Texas barbecued beef ribs. Featuring an Equipment Review covering paper plates.
3-06 Everybody Loves Chocolate--10/09/2010
Recipes for Texas sheet cake and chocolate cream cupcakes. Featuring a Tasting Lab on hot cocoa.
3-07 Hearty Italian Meals--10/16/2010
Recipes for Italian pot roast and baked manicotti with meat sauce. Featuring an Equipment Review covering pizza wheels.
3-08 Northern Cookout--10/23/2010
Recipes for Cornell chicken, Syracuse salt potatoes, and Juicy Lucy burgers. Featuring a Tasting Lab on bottled barbecue sauce.
3-09 The Chemistry Of Cakes--10/30/2010
Recipes for angel food cake and lemon pudding cake. Featuring an Equipment Review covering hand-held mixers and tube pans.
3-10 Southwestern Supper--11/06/2010
Recipes for easy chicken tacos and beef enchiladas. Featuring a Tasting Lab on canned baked beans and top freezer tricks.
3-11 Breakfast Showstoppers--11/13/2010
Recipes for monkey bread and Dutch baby. Featuring an Equipment Review covering inexpensive 4-slice toasters and a Tasting Lab on decaffeinated coffees.
3-12 Chicken Two Ways--11/20/2010
Recipes for roast lemon chicken and skillet chicken Parmesan. Featuring a Tasting Lab on canned chicken noodle soup and tips for cooking with chicken.
3-13 Ultimate Ham Dinner--11/27/2010
Recipes for cider-baked ham, Delmonico potatoes, and cornmeal biscuits. Featuring an Equipment Review covering electric knives.
Season Four Episode Guide (PBS)
4-01 Roast Beef Dinner--09/10/2011
Recipes for herbed roast beef and whipped potatoes. Featuring an Equipment Review covering multi-event kitchen timers and tips for top sirloin cooking with salt.
4-02 Ice Box Desserts--09/17/2011
Recipes for French silk chocolate pie and lemon icebox cheesecake. Featuring a Tasting Lab on chocolate ice cream.
4-03 Fancy Chicken--09/24/2011
Recipes for foolproof chicken cordon bleu and apple cider chicken. Featuring a Tasting Lab on black forest deli ham and tips for how to cut a whole chicken.
4-04 Tropical Barbeque--10/01/2011
Recipes for Huli Huli chicken and Chinese-style barbecued ribs. Featuring an Equipment Review covering pastry brushes and a Tasting Lab on reduced-fat potato chips.
4-05 Bayou Classics-10/15/2011
Recipes for gumbo and lane cake. Featuring a Tasting Lab on long-grain rice.
4-06 Retro Desserts--10/22/2011
Recipes for banana pudding and Chiffon cake. Featuring an Equipment Review covering fine-mesh strainers.
4-07 Family Favorites--10/29/2011
Recipes for Swiss steak and baked potato fans. Featuring an Equipment Review covering immersion blenders and a Tasting Lab on tomato paste.
4-08 Not Just For Kids--11/05/2011
Recipes for chicken nuggets, and macaroni and cheese with tomatoes. Featuring an Equipment Review covering broiler-safe baking dishes and a Tasting Lab on yellow mustard.
4-09 Fried Chicken & Biscuits--10/12/2011
Recipes for Nashville hot fried chicken and cat head biscuits. Featuring an Equipment Review covering spider skimmers and a Tasting Lab on whole Kosher dill pickles.
4-10 Autumn Desserts--11/19/2011
Recipes for baked apple dumplings and old-fashioned pecan pie. Featuring an Equipment Review covering cake carriers.
4-11 Grilling--12/31/2011
Recipes for grilled thin-cut pork chops, grilled potato hobo packs, and grilled butterflied lemon chicken. Featuring an Equipment Review covering grill tongs.
4-12 Road Food At Home--01/07/2011
Recipes for slow cooker BBQ beef brisket and beer-battered onion rings. Featuring an Equipment Review covering slow cookers.
4-13 St. Louis Cooking--01/14/2011
Recipes for St. Louis-style pizza and St. Louis-style BBQ pork steaks. Featuring a Tasting Lab on supermarket pepperoni.
Season Five Episode Guide (PBS)
5-01 Hearty Autumn Dinner--09/15/2012
Recipes for smothered pork chops and apple fritters. Featuring a Tasting Lab on breakfast sausage patties.
5-02 Breakfast Breads--09/22/2012
Recipes for morning buns and Morning Glory muffins. Featuring an Equipment Review covering muffin tins and a Tasting Lab on pancake mix.
5-03 Dixie Chicken--09/29/2012
Recipes for Moravian chicken pie and chicken and slicks.
5-04 Italian Favorites Revisited--10/06/2012
Recipes for slow-cooker meatballs and marinara, and spinach lasagna. Featuring an Equipment Review covering oven mitts and a Tasting Lab on jarred spaghetti sauce.
5-05 Simple Summer Supper--10/13/2012
Recipes for grilled steakhouse steak tips and dill potato salad. Featuring an Equipment Review covering one-handed pepper grinders.
5-06 Fun Modern Cakes--10/20/2012
Recipes for strawberry dream cake and chocolate eclair cake. Featuring an Equipment Review covering cake lifters and a Tasting Lab on milk chocolate.
5-07 Upscale Meat And Potatoes--10/27/2012
Recipes for herb-crusted beef tenderloin and duchess potatoes. Featuring an Equipment Review covering fondue pots.
5-08 Thrill Of The Grill--11/03/2012
Recipes for South Carolina pulled pork and grilled chicken wings. Featuring an Equipment Review covering portable charcoal grills and a Tasting Lab on ice cream bars.
5-09 Forgotten Cookies--11/10/2012
Recipes for melting moments and fairy gingerbread cookies. Featuring an Equipment Review covering toasters.
5-10 Super-Easy Comfort Food--10/17/2012
Recipes for chuck roast in foil and slow-cooker French onion soup. Featuring an Equipment Review covering inexpensive stockpots.
5-11 Chicken For Everyone!--11/24/2012
Recipes for chicken chimichangas and one-pan roast chicken with root vegetables. Featuring an Equipment Review covering kitchen shears and a Tasting Lab on tomato soup.
5-12 Great American Cookout--12/01/2012
Recipes for Baltimore pit beef and barbecued country-style ribs. Featuring a Tasting Lab on ketchup.
5-13 Dinner At The Diner--12/08/2012
Recipes for patty melts and crispy potato tots. Featuring an Equipment Review covering travel mugs and a Tasting Lab on macaroni and cheese.
Season Six Episode Guide (PBS)
Season Twelve Episode Guide (PBS)
12-01 BBQ Brisket And Fritters--08/24/2019
Texas barbeque brisket and coolers.
12-02 Italian Comfort Food Classics--08/31/2019
Chicago thin crust pizza with homemade Italian sausage, a taste test of jarred pasta sauce and pasta e fagioli.
12-03 Tacos Two Ways--09/02/2019
Smoked fish tacos, a Southern California treat; Chimney starters and grilled steak fajitas.
12-04 Beef, Dressed Up--09/14/2019
Spice-encrusted steaks, supermarket bacon, electric griddles, and grilled bacon burgers with caramelized onions.
12-05
12-06
12-07 Chicken And Cornbread--10/05/2019
Cast iron baked chicken, a tasting of hot sauce, blueberry cornbread with honey butter.
12-08
12-09
12-10
12-11 Holiday Feast--11/02/2019
Crumb-crusted rack of lamb, electric knives, and Brussels sprout gratin.
Season Thirteen Episode Guide (PBS)
13-01 Regional Seafood Specialties--09/12/2020
Monterey Bay cioppino, can openers and how to make the ultimate shrimp Mozambique.
13-02 Taste Of Summer--09/19/2020
Grilled Flank steak with basil dressing. Herb keepers and fresh tomato galette.
13-03 Beef Kabobs And Cheese Bread--09/28/2020
Shashlik-style beef kabobs, ground cumin and adjaruli khachapuri.
13-04 Grilled Chicken, Two Ways--10/03/2020
Grilled jerk chicken, grill brushes and smoked chicken wings.
13-05 Tacos Two Ways--10/10/2020
Pork carnitas, lard and crunchy shrimp tacos.
13-06 Bread, Cheese And Meat Can't Be Beat--10/17/2020
Sliders, ketchup and croque monsieur.
13-07 Herbaceous Chicken And Potatoes--10/24/2020
Greek chicken, crumbled feta, liquid measuring cups and crushed red potatoes with garlic and herbs.
13-08 Italian Comfort Food--10/31/2020
Cheesy stuffed shells, 13x9 broiler-safe baking dishes and eggplant pecorino.
13-09 Chicken And Biscuits--11/07/2020
One-batch fried chicken, strawberry spreads and North Carolina cheese biscuits.
13-10 Pennsylvania Dutch Country--11/14/2020
Pennsylvania Dutch apple pie, vanilla ice cream and Amish cinnamon bread.
13-11 Motor City Favorites--11/21/2020
Bottom round roast beef with zip-style sauce, measuring spoons and almond boneless chicken.
13-12 Never Enough Chocolate-11/28/2020
Triple chocolate sticky buns, milk chocolate and crispy chocolate chip cookies.
13-13 Spring Feast--12/05/2020
Slow-roasted fresh ham, inexpensive stand mixers and St. Louis gooey butter cake bars.
Season Fourteen Episode Guide (PBS)
14-01 Fried Bites--09/18/2021
Popcorn chicken, electric deep fryers, gobi Manchurian, and crispy vegetable fritters.
14-02 Roast Chicken And Salad--09/25/2021
Green Goddess roast chicken, the origins of Green Goddess dressing, a primer on herbs, perfect pesto, plus a potato, green bean and tomato salad.
14-03 Summer Berry Desserts--10/02/2021
Mixed berry buckle, the history of baked fruit desserts, thickening agents, strawberry cheesecake bars, and a strawberry-basil compote.
Season Fifteen Episode Guide (PBS)
15-01 Cast Iron Everything--08/20/2022
Japanese steak house steak and vegetables, the legacy of the Japanese steakhouse in the U.S., cast iron skillets, plus charred cherry tomatoes with bell peppers and mozzarella.
15-02 New England For Everyone--08/27/2022
Woodman's-style clam chowder, how to eat oysters at home, inexpensive blenders, how to humanely cook lobsters, and hot buttered lobster rolls.
15-03 Low Country Party--09/03/2022
Okra and shrimp stew, the story of the Gullah Geechee people, lightweight Dutch ovens, and pickled shrimp.
15-04
15-05
15-06
15-07
15-08
15-09
15-10
15-11
15-12
15-13
15-14 Chuck Roast And Potatoes--11/19/2022
Roasted beef chuck roast with horseradish parsley sauce, medicinal uses for horseradish, kitchen times, torn and fried potatoes, plus creamed spinach.
15-15 Saucy Italian-Inspired Dinners--11/26/2022
Spaghetti Carbonara; buying eggs; fried artichokes; ancient potato preserving techniques and instant mashed potato gnocchi.
Season Sixteen Episode Guide (PBS)
16-01 Texas Cookout--09/09/2023
Texas-style smoked beef ribs, charcoal, the history of self-rising flour, easy blueberry cobbler, and a visit to El Paso, Texas.
16-02 Fish Tacos And Fried Shrimp--09/16/2023
San Diego fish tacos; tortilla chips; the history of shrimping in America and crispy fried shrimp.
16-03 Never Enough Citrus--09/23/2023
Smoke citrus chicken, the origins of Key Lime pie and making Key Lime pie.
16-04 Sisig And Wings--09/30/2023
Sisig and garlic fried rice; the importance of Knorr's Liquid seasoning in Filipino cooking and the perfect soy garlic chicken wings.
16-05 Hawaiian Melting Pot--10/07/2023
Tuna poke and salmon teriyaki poke; freeze-dried backpacking meals and malasades.
16-06
16-07 Puerto Rican Classics--10/21/2023
Guanimes con bacalao; pina coladas; a visit to Puerto Rico and all about Salt Cod.
16-08
16-09 Biscuits And Chicken--11/04/2023
Butter and lard biscuits; the debate between lard and shortening; the benefits of full-sized and mini food processors and mimosa fried chicken.
16-10 Jamaican Feast--11/11/2023
Jamaican oxtail; oxtail dishes around the world; countertop compost bins and Jamaican rice and peas.
16-11 New Mexican Bounty--11/18/2023
New Mexican bean and cheese turnovers with green chili. The history of tomato clubs in the U.S. and Southwestern tomato and corn salad.
16-12 Mediterranean Meze--11/25/2023
Mana'eesh za'atar; baba ghanoush; different eggplants; roasted beets with lemon-tahini dressing.
16-13 The Best Diner Food--12/02/2023
Diner-style patty melts; automatic drip coffee makers and the ultimate extra crunchy onion rings.
16-14 French-Inspired Dinner--12/09/2023
Trout amadine; how Julia Child made French cooking accessible in the U.S. and a deep dive into freshwater fish.
16-15 Sausages And Salads--12/16/2023
Choucroute garnie, Belgian endive, European-style sausages and endive salad with oranges and blue cheese.
Season Seventeen Episode Guide (PBS)
17-01 North Carolina Barbeque--09/21/2024
North Carolina barbeque pork. Fire pits for cooking and lemonade with honey.
17-02 Inspired By Japanese Immigrants--09/28/2024
Seattle chicken teriyaki, sweet potato salad with cumin, smoked paprika and almonds, a profile of Chef Nobu, and miso black cod.
17-03 Southwestern Vegetarian Fare--09/30/2024
Vegetarian chili, international Chili Society, Kansas City-style barbecue sauce and jalapeno-cheddar scones.
17-04 Unexpected Beef And Potatoes--10/05/2024
Smoked prime rib, foods that started as leftovers, grill gloves, torn potato salad with toasted garlic and herb dressing.
17-05 A Bold Brunch--10/07/2024
Brunch burgers, Browned butter chocolate chunk muffins and a review of cooking sprays.
17-06
17-07 Spiced Chicken Dinners--10/26/2024
Kombidi, cumin-scented chicken, hot honey chicken and honey.
17-08 From The Indigenous Pantry--11/09/2024
Cider-braised turkey and grilled sweet potatoes with maple chili crisp.
17-09 Darn Good Desserts--11/16/2024
S'mores pies, rolling pins and M&M cookies.
17-10 Short Ribs And Baked Potatoes--11/23/2024
Slow-roasted medium rare beef short ribs, beef steaks, a fun baked potato story, plus twice-baked potatoes with bacon and cheddar cheese.
17-11 The Power Of Southern Cooking--11/30/2024
A visit to Edisto Island, S.C., hoppin' John, and orange rolls.
17-12 Duck And Dessert With Flair--12/07/2024
Duck breasts with port wing-fig sauce, the story of the Tartin Sisters and the history of their namesake dish, and tarte tatin.
17-13 From The Dairyland--12/14/2024
Cream cheese kringle, how kringle made it to Wisconsin from Denmark, plus fried cheese curds with ranch dressing.
17-14 Southern Staples--12/21/2024
Crispy fried catfish with comeback sauce, serrated bread knives, and extra-cheesy grits.
17-15 Pantry Suppers--12/28/2024
Okinawan taco rice, herb and spice blends, plus pepperoni French bread pizza.
17-16 Short Cake And Sandwich Cookies--01/05/2025
Carrot snack cake, water bottles, and oatmeal cream pies.
17-17 Italian Food From Philly--01/11/2025
Philadelphia pork sandwiches, and the origins of Philly tomato pie.
17-18 Seafood In A Skillet--01/18/2025
A visit to the Basque Block in Boise, Idaho. Clams with chorizo, Worcestershire sauce, shrimp and garlic, and Spanish-style sizzling garlic shrimp.
17-19 Pork Any Way You Like It--02/25/2025
Pork chops with bourbon-cherry sauce and sweet potatoes. South Carolina delicacies, and South Carolina barbeque hash.
17-20 Crescent City Comforts--02/01/2025
Best yakamein, soft coolers and bourbon chicken.